2002 Volkswagen Jetta Brakes Problems

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING AND MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABOUT TO SWITCH LANES TO PULL OVER AND I LOST POWER, BRAKES, AND STEERING. I JUST MADE IT INTO A PARKING LOT ABOUT FIVE FEET FROM A BUILDING WHEN MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SMOKING. I POPPED MY HOOD BUT IT WOULDN'T COME OPEN. WITHIN ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF MY HOOD STARTED MELTING SPARKS WERE FALLING FROM THE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR AND THROUGH THE GRILL I COULD SEE A SMALL FIRE. WITHIN TWO MINUTES MY CAR WAS ON FIRE! I HAD TO CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MY CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND BURNT TO A CRISP ! BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME A VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER JUST HAPPENED TO DRIVE BY AND FIRE EXTINGUISHED IT BUT IT DIDN'T DO A THING. NOW I AM OUT MY CAR...MY LIVELY HOOD..AND THE $4500 I SPENT 1 YEAR AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676178

Incident

Jan 16, 2015

Mileage

146,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, ONE OR TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID

10564924

Incident

Feb 2, 2014

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN SUDDENLY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE ABS SENSOR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID (02V031000) SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC: ANTI-LOCK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

NHTSA ID

10369064

Incident

Jul 25, 2010

Mileage

102,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND I HAVE A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ISSUE (BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND A DCT(P0571) IS SET) THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL/REPLACEMENT, BUT THE VIN GROUP THAT THIS APPLIES TO IS 3VW---9M-YM000089 TO 3VW---9M-2M053565, AS YOU CAN SEE, MINE IS JUST OUT SIDE THE HIGH VIN. THE VIN RANGE SHOULD BE READDRESSED TO INCLUDE ALL 2002 MODEL JETTAS WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10322862

Incident

Mar 23, 2010

Mileage

134,221 mi

ABS WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP IN 2002 JETTA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311433

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

76,000 mi

WHEN GENTLY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES WOULD SUDDENLY FULLY ENGAGE FOR A MOMENT AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THERE WERE NO CONSEQUENCES IN MY CASE, BUT IT IS NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THIS CAUSING A CAR TO BE HIT FROM THE REAR OR CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. TO CORRECT THE SITUATION THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232182

Incident

Jun 19, 2008

Mileage

68,300 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON, COMPLETED RECALL FOR BRAKE SWITCH, EPC LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON, CAR STALLS WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE VERY DANGEROUS. AFTER A NIGHT OF RAIN, LEAK IN PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MOLD GROWING CAR WILL HAVE A VERY HARD START OR NO START AT ALL IN THE MORNING, REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES. CHANGED O2 SENSOR 2X, CAR BURNS OIL CONTINUOUSLY, INTERIOR LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT, BRAKE LIGHTS DIE OUT FAST, CHANGED BRAKE LIGHTS AND SIGNAL LIGHTS AT LEAST 5X. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231545

Incident

Aug 29, 2003

Mileage

24,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IN AUGUST OF 2006. THE FIRST SET OF REPAIRS WAS ON 3/2007 AT 64,332 MI CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MULITPLE MISFIRES: P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 REPLACED IGNITION COILS COST: $200.11 SECOND REPAIR TOOK PLACE IN APRIL OF 2007 TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL - REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON - REPLACED TEMP. SENSOR COST: $199.33 CAR WAS JERKING INTO GEAR, DOWNSHIFTING HARD AND SLUGGISH. BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALSERHSIP IN APRIL 2008 WORN STRUT BRUSHINGS NEEDS REAR PADS NEEDS ROTORS CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT ON AGAIN NEEDS NEW COILS AGAIN SPARK PLUGS TEMP SENSOR AGAIN NEW T-STAT FANS NOT WORKING HOSES UNDER INTAKE BROKEN NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS COST: $149.21 ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR: $6,500.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228140

Incident

Apr 14, 2008

Mileage

72,501 mi

I OWN A 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T. OVER THE WINTER MY ABS SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AT ALL! SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK AND SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T. NOW THAT IT IS WARMER OUT IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL! ABS LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, AND BLINKING BRAKE LIGHT NOW ILLUMINATE MY DASHBOARD. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A FAULTY ABS CONTROL UNIT WHICH MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH. I SIMPLY DON'T HAVE 1,500 DOLLARS TO FIX SOMETHING LIKE THIS BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE IN CONTROL OF MY CAR ON SNOWY WISCONSIN ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226350

Incident

Dec 9, 2007

Mileage

96,000 mi

MY 2002 VW JETTA EXPERIENCED A RECALL PROBLEM (N4, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH) AND I FIXED IT THROUGH A NEAREST MECHANIC BECAUSE 1) THE CLOSEST VW DEALER IS 100 MILE AWAY 2) I WAS SCARE TO DRIVE 100 MILE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT A PROPER BRAKE LIGHT. HOWEVER, VW REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE I FIXED IT THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. I AM SO SAD AND DISAPPOINTED THAT VW IS NOT CONSIDERING DIVERS LIFE AND SAFETY SERIOUSLY AND IS WILLING TO PUSH US TO DRIVE HUNDRED MILES WITH A RECALLED CAR WITHOUT A BRAKE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212707

Incident

Nov 3, 2007

Mileage

48,700 mi

I HAVE A VW JETTA 2002 I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT RECALLS THAT I HAD NO NOTICE OF AND PAID TO HAVE THE ITEM REPAIRED. ALSO WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE TECHNICAL BULLETINS FOR MY VEHICLE. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE CONCERNING CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT INDICATOR THAT CONTINUES TO COME ON BUT THE AUTHORIZED VW REPAIR SHOP CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT GET THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHEN I BRING IT IN. ALTHOUGH THEY CONTINUALLY TEST DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208590

Incident

Sep 7, 2007

BRAKE BOOSTER IS FAILING AFTER USE IN TRAFFIC. THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY SINKS AND WHEN LIGHTLY TAPPED, IT SLAMS TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, A LOUD SUCTION CAN BE HEARD INSIDE THE CAR, AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED FULLY. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER BRAKES ARE USED SOME TIME, SAY IN A TRAFFIC JAM. THERE IS A SITE, TDICLUB.COM, WHICH HAS FORUMS WHERE MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR 2002 MODEL YEAR VW JETTA. THE DANGER IS THAT THE BRAKES COME ON FULLY, WHICH STARTLES NOT ONLY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER(S), BUT THE VEHICLES THAT ARE FOLLOWING. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM (BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE) BUT CAN BE REPLICATED IF THE BRAKES ARE USED HEAVILY. WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTS TO HAPPEN, IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE NOT USED FOR QUITE SOME TIME. ONCE THIS STARTED HAPPENING TODAY, VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES CAUSED THE SYMPTOMS ABOVE. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT SEVEN TIMES THIS DAY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10205146

Incident

Oct 6, 2007

Mileage

120,039 mi

BRAKE POWER BOOSTER SUDDENLY FAILS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE BRAKES REALLY HARD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FLOORS ON ITS OWN. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10198426

Incident

Jul 24, 2007

Mileage

79,000 mi

2002 JETTA WITH A SAFETY RECALL- REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIXED THE RECALL**CC THE VW SERVICE CENTER AND CUSTOMER CARE INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY HAD NO OBLIGATIONS TO PAY FOR TOWING OR ANY OTHER COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE LAST RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER HAD EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE LOCKING UP AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE SWITCH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE PANEL. THE CONSUMER STATED IN THE PAST, THE TRUNK LATCH FAILED AS WELL AS A BROKEN BOLT ON THE TRANSMISSION, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AND THE EGR ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DOOR LATCH FAILED BECAUSE THE LOCK SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR HIS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE, THIS IS THE 3RD BRAKE SWITCH NOT TO MENTION OVER $800 IN UNWARRANTED CHARGES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS HOPING THAT THIS CLASSIFIES THE VEHICLE AS A LEMON. THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE DEALERSHIP TO REVIEW THE OVER CHARGES OR BUYING THE VEHICLE BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10195875

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

SAFETY RECALL 1999-2002 JETTA BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CUSTOMER IS VERY UPSET AND WANTS HIS MONEY BACK FOR THE PART AND INSTALLATION**NAR**CC *JB

NHTSA ID

10187928

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO TURN ON WHEN ONE APPLIES THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WANTS THE SAFETY RECALL ON VOLKSWAGEN BRAKE LIGHTS TO APPLY TO ALL OF THE VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179034

Incident

Jan 12, 2007

Mileage

270,447 mi

BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177897

Incident

Jan 2, 2007

Mileage

92,900 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #06V183000 REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176266

Incident

Dec 8, 2006

Mileage

67,000 mi

ON OCTOBER 19, 2006, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THIS INDICATED A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD EFFECT THE BRAKES ON THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 26, 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO FISCHER'S FOREIGN CARS, INC. FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $702.93 AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA INC(VOA) DATED MARCH 12, 2002) AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH VOA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON FEBRUARY 16, 2002, AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON NOVEMBER 4, 2006, I SENT A REGISTERED LETTER TO VOA REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. I ALSO ENCLOSED COPIES OF THE RECALL LETTER AND THE REPAIR BILL. ABOUT NOVEMBER 11, 2006, I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM A WOMAN AT VOA AND SHE SAID THAT THE RECALL LETTER DID NOT COVER MY CAR AND THAT BECAUSE THE FACTORY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY 2006, THAT VOA WOULD NOT HONOR MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SHE SAID THE DECISION WAS FINAL. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RECALL WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR WHEN THE PROBLEM INDICATED IN THE RECALL LETTER IS THE SAME AS MINE. IT SEEMS THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MORE CARS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS FROM MY DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, MY CAR HAD 38,631 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE OTHER CARS, LIKE MINE, THAT SHOULD HAVE WHEN COVERED BY THE RECALL OR A SUBSEQUENT RECALL TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE. I BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD REVISIT THIS ISSUE TO DETERMINE IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE CARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10175666

Incident

Oct 19, 2006

Mileage

38,631 mi

THIS IS A REPORT OF THE FAILURE OF THE BOOSTER BRAKE ON A 2002 VW TDI JETTA. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WILL SUDDENLY BE SUCKED TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN A SUDDEN STOP. THE DANGER CREATED IS OF BEING REAR-ENDED AND IS A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT TO TROUBLE SHOOT BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT. ONCE THE PEDAL IS SUCKED TO THE FLOOR IT COULD BE DAYS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I SEE THAT AT LEAST ELEVEN OTHER 2002 JETTA OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SUDDEN BRAKING PROBLEM TO NHTS, I.E. ODI ID #10103196, 10129643, 10137579, 10100576, 10058106, 10027194, 8011122, 10139134, 10086927, 8023749, 769651. IN EACH CASE, WHERE A SOLUTION IS MENTIONED, THE SOLUTION INVOLVED THE BOOSTER BRAKE. IN MY CASE THE VW DEALER, AFTER TRYING TWICE, DID NOT FIND THE SOLUTION. IT WAS AFTER INTERACTING WITH THE FOLKS AT THE VW TDI CLUB WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I LEARNED THEIR SOLUTION WHICH WAS TO REPLACE THE BOOSTER BRAKE. THE VW DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE MY BOOSTER BRAKE ONLY IF I AGREED TO HOLD NO ONE OTHER THAN MYSELF RESPONSIBLE SHOULD THE REPLACEMENT NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND IF THEY COULD REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER IN ADDITION TO THE BOOSTER BRAKE. THE REPAIR MADE OVER A YEAR AGO ON 25 OCTOBER 2005, SOLVED MY SUDDEN BRAKING PROBLEM. I SEE THAT OTHERS ON THE TDI WEB SITE ARE STILL HAVING BOOSTER BRAKE PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING VOLKSWAGONS ATTENTION. THE HELP OF THE NHTS IS NEEDED TO RAISE THE CORPORATE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE RIGHT FOLKS IN VW ABOUT THE BOOSTER BRAKE PROBLEM. AT A MINIMUM VW SHOULD ALERT ITS SERVICE REPAIR FOLKS TO THE SYMPTOMS AND THE SOLUTION. A RECALL TO CORRECT THE FAILED BOOSTER BRAKES IS THE DESIRED REDRESS. I STILL HAVE THE FAILED BOOSTER BRAKE AND MASTER CYLINDER AND WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE ALL THE PARTS TO THE NHTS FOLKS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173410

Incident

Oct 1, 2005

Mileage

75,221 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE AND INFORMED THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE 3 BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE IN RAPID SUCCESSION AND REQUIRED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN AUGUST. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, AS WELL AS, THE LIGHTING IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BY THE HEAT SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 06V183000 FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH DUE TO THE VIN, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEMS WERE SIMILAR.

NHTSA ID

10170672

Incident

Oct 12, 2006

Mileage

84,000 mi

WAY TO MANY TO LIST HERE. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE START. MORE THAN $7000 WORTH OF REPAIR (PLUS MORE THAT WAS COVERED BY WARR) THE FINAL ITEM THAT CAUSED ME TO SAY I WOULD NEVER CONSIDER ANOTHER VW PRODUCT WAS THE ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY A TIMING BELT FAILURE. ALL SERVICES WERE PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE USERS MANUAL STATES INSPECTION OF THE BELT AT SERVICES (THAT I PAID FOR) AND REPLACEMENT AT 120,000 MILES. I ONLY HAD 92,000 MILES. IT WILL COST $5,000 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. IT IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO REPAIR THIS CAR. IT WAS A GREAT CAR TO DRIVE BUT QUALITY CONTROL IS POOR AT BEST. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170044

Incident

Sep 3, 2006

Mileage

92,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #06V183000 REGARDING EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 10/0/406. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168406

Incident

Apr 1, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE. I TURNED OFF MY CAR WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. I READ THE MANUAL, AND IT WAS NOT HELPFUL. IT JUST STATED THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER OR QUALIFIED SPECIALIST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (NOTE: THIS IS WHAT THE BOOKLET SAYS FOR THE MAJORITY OF ITEMS IN THE OWNERS' MANUAL). UPON RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE, I STARTED MY CAR ONCE MORE. MY ENGINE TURNED OVER, BUT THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE AUTO SHOP INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR HAD A "FEATURE" THAT DISABLED THE CAR FROM SHIFTING GEARS DUE TO A TAIL-LIGHT FUSE THAT BLEW OUT. IT IS BELIEVED THAT DISABLING THE VEHICLE SERVES THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING SAFETY ON THE STREETS- A VEHICLE IN MOTION WITHOUT TAILLIGHTS IS APPARENTLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN A DRIVER STRANDED ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THEIR CAR HAS STRANDED THEM. LUCKILY, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO BE IN A BAD SITUATION. SO FINALLY, THE CAR WAS FIXED, OF COURSE AFTER I PAID YET ANOTHER HEFTY BILL FOR MY CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167711

Incident

Aug 19, 2006

Mileage

58,975 mi

I OWN A 2002 JETTA 1.8T MANUAL SPEED WAGON PURCHASED ON 3/31/06. LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS ON 2002 JETTA'S WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART, HOWEVER MY CAR'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL. AS THERE ARE FEW MANUAL WAGONS PRODUCED AND MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS SEEM TO DECREASE THE FAILURE SLIGHTLY, THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS THE SAME PART AS THE RECALLED 2002 JETTAS AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR AT LEAST BE REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED BY VW AS IT IS A KNOWN FAULTY PART. I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE MY VIN ON THE RECALL AS IT IS USING THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART (AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES). *NM

NHTSA ID

10166965

Incident

Aug 28, 2006

Mileage

51,000 mi